What if a child growing up far from Lebanon could reconnect with their heritage by building Baalbek with their own hands? What if clinicians could identify warning signs before a patient leaves the hospital? 

These were the types of possibilities, from cultural identity to healthcare and peer learning, for which students at the inaugural SYMZ Capital Venture Forge Challenge–Powered by AKSOB were asked to propose solutions.

Sponsored by SYMZ Capital, the Venture Forge Challenge is a two-day innovation and entrepreneurship competition for student teams from the Adnan Kassar School of Business to translate classroom concepts into venture-ready pitches before a professional jury.

As AKSOB’s fourth annual jury-based innovation and entrepreneurship competition, the event brought together 16 teams from seven classes for two days of live pitching, tough questioning, and real-time feedback, with the top three teams earning conditional venture development grants of $3,000, $2,000, and $1,000. 

Their challenge was to confront assumptions under pressure and learn what it takes to move from concept to execution.

First prize went to Box of Dreams, created by second-year MBA students Romy Al Bkassini, Marielle Kai, and Roudy Zeidan, along with first-year MBA student Ali Chehadeh, a subscription-based concept designed to help diaspora children reconnect with their cultural roots through buildable landmarks, storytelling, interactive challenges, and digital learning experiences. 

Taking second place was Care Insight, developed by graduate student in data analytics Jad Khalid Assaf, a predictive healthcare platform that helps clinicians assess the likelihood of patient readmission before discharge.

In a healthcare system where missed warning signs can lead to serious consequences, the concept focused on supporting faster, more informed clinical decisions while reinforcing, rather than replacing, professional judgment. 

The third award went to YallaSwap, presented by senior students Yara Arakji, Lynn Sawly, Nour Issa, Omar Rifaii, a peer-learning platform built around a simple but timely premise: Students already possess valuable skills but not always the financial means to access the support they need.

By creating a credit-based exchange system, the concept reimagined academic support as a collaborative community built on reciprocity rather than cost. 

AKSOB Dean Dima Jamali sees experiences like Venture Forge as central to the school’s approach to education, where learning is shaped as much by experimentation and resilience as classroom instruction. 

“This is what education is all about,” Dr. Jamali said. “It is about creating opportunities beyond the classroom where students can test ideas, build confidence, and learn through both success and feedback.”

Mr. Michel Bayoud, CEO of SYMZ Capital, echoed Dr. Jamali’s view, highlighting persistence as a core attribute of successful entrepreneurship.

“The strongest ideas are rarely shaped in a straight line,” he said. “What matters is the willingness to test them, improve them, and keep going. That is the kind of mindset that creates lasting impact,” he said.

Behind the competition stood faculty mentors, jury members, and AKSOB leadership, whose roles extended from organizing the event to creating a space where students could test ideas against real expectations.

Praising the quality of the students’ pitches, Dr. Michel Majdalani, director of AKSOB’s SYMZ Capital Ignition Program and co-chair of AKSOB’s Innovation & Entrepreneurship Strategic Committee, highlighted this new generation’s remarkable resilience and momentum despite adverse conditions in the country.

In addition to Mr. Bayoud, the jury brought together leaders from entrepreneurship, investment, and academia, including Mr. Victor Hamouche, managing partner at Axley Bankers and World Bank consultant on capital markets and private equity investments; Mr. Omar El Hachem, Investment and ESG lead, Middle East Venture Partners; Mr. Ralph Khairallah, former chief growth officer at Berytech; Mr. Joseph Cari, private equity expert; and Dr. Grace Dagher, chair of AKSOB’s Department of Management Studies.